Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-01-27

COMMUSIcATED.
NessTs. Editors Without asserting %
or dissenting from the conclusions which
your correspondent, Mr. Maddox, reaches
in his contribution published in your pa
per two weeks ago, cannot refrain from
expressing my approval OF your course in
devotiBg at least portion Of your spaee to
the consideration offaTm and domestic mat
ter- II you win allow an outsider to judge,
think YOU do not devote a much of your
space each week as you should 10 short
discussions Of these subjects. The contri-
button Of your anonymous correspondent
In the same issue belongs 10 the same fami-
~ Of papers and is much more interesting
TO the present writer than speculations
about government or general politics. The
former are on home themes, and when the pa
Pers are meritoriOus and original, as is the
case with these contributions, they are cal
culated 10 develop reflection and thought
at our firesides, which may lead in time to
valuable practical results. Ihope these pa
pers may be the beginning of series on
the same or kindred subjects, which may
attract as much attention and enthusiasm
as politics, which we all SO mad about at
least once q year, not much to our credit
and nothing To the advantage Of anyone,
unless 1t be the office seekers. make an
exception in favor Of the paper of Mr.. Har-
ris lately published in the BEACON. 1t is
in no just sense political and the attempt to
prove it such is a failure. Though inyoiv-
ing national legislation. il is on home sub
ject, too, and is treated with an ability, re-
search, calmness of manner, moderation Of
statement and force of reasoning which en-
title il TO the thoughtful consideration of
candid men, both from its legal and equi-
table standpoints. | would like much TO
read reputable answer TO il.
But to return to Mr. Maddox and your
anonymous correspondent Mr. Maddox
proposes, in substance, that our people
should abandon raising tobacco and substi-
tute for this crop larger area ofcorn, with
fruits and vegetables, including small Der
ries. Now, il should be borne in mind that
rail communication only touches the upper
end of our county and that at present we
have no reasonable prospect of having il
extended. Our distance from market rem
ders it impracticable in the absence of rail
transport TO raise vegetables, fruits or ber-
ries probably. AT least we should raise
them under present conditions at a disad-
vantage. Besides, sudden transitions fir m
one kind ofiarm product to others totally diff
ferent should not be lightly undertaken
Thought and care should plecede changes
in this as in all other kinds of business.
Thus, considering our own and the habits
oil our ancestors. and the grooves in which
we have so long moved, think it would
be imprudent in us to abandon at once and
entirely the raising OF tobacco in our coun-
ty. 1t could be attempted at much less
risk, and with greater safety, by degrees.
II is not the quantity but the quality of
this crop that should be of prime consider
alton with planters in the present state of
VIZ eotAS'O MAJ htA. nave uO
We could profitably shorten our tobacco
acreage and increase that of corn and other
products. believe, for instance, il would
be good beginning and a good rule 10 lay
down to plant 10 more tobacco than we
could manure from home resources and these
| contend should be fairly divided between
that and other crops we raise on the farm
am positive that we should avoid the use at
present prices of commercial fertilizers.
This would probably cut down the tobac-
CO crop 10 half of what il now is, but we
would save much labor and expense by
the change, and not then oyerstock the
market, and we would be able to cultivate
it more carefully and handle il better, and
certainly We would avoid the heavy outlay
we are now forced TO make for foreign and
often worthless manures, which, with the
indifferent crops We send TO market, is the
real cause of our present farm embarrass-
ments.
The leading idea in the article of your
anonymous correspondent is, that we
should give more time and attention 10
raising beef for home consumption than
we do and less 10 hog raising, with the IN
certainties which at present attach to it.
The suggestions Of your anonymous cores
pendent in this connection have much i'm
pressed me, and have no doubt others,
but as these open up wide field of addi-
tlonal speculation, and as fear l have
already trespassed- overmuch on your
space, I shall reserve what have to say
on these points for another issue of your
paper. AN OLD PLANTER